COVID-19 Assessment & PPE Pre-simulation Preparation

1. Readings

a. Infection prevention and control for COVID-19: Interim guidance for long-term care
homes:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-
coronavirus-infection/prevent-control-covid-19-long-term-care-homes.html#a11

Resident care and infection prevention and control measures

i. Routine practices
1. Point-of-care risk assessment
2. Hand hygiene
ii. Personal protective equipment
iii. Masking and eye protection for the full duration of shifts or visits
iv. Additional precautions
v. Aerosol-generating medical procedures

b. Potter et al. (2019). Infection Control, p. 689-720.

2. Pre-simulation questions
a. What is a point-of-care risk assessment?
Prior to any resident interaction, all LTCH staff have a responsibility to assess the
infectious risks posed to themselves, other staff, other residents and visitors
from a resident, situation, or procedure.
b. When should you perform hand hygiene in your long-term care home clinical
experience?
On entry to and exit from the facility
Before and after contact with a resident
Before putting on and after removing gloves
Before and after contact with a resident's environment (e.g., medical equipment,
bed, table, door handle), regardless of whether gloves are worn
 Whenever hands are potentially contaminated (e.g., after any contact with
blood, body fluids, bedpans, urinals, or wound dressings)
Before preparing or administering medications or food
Before performing aseptic procedures
Before putting on PPE and during and after removal of PPE, according to the
facility's procedures for putting on and removing PPE
After performing personal hygiene (e.g., blowing one's nose, using the toilet,
etc.)
c. Why is eye protection recommended in long term care homes?
Eye protection is an important component of contact and droplet precautions.
d. What are aerosol-generating procedures?
Some medical procedures have been reported to increase the likelihood of
generating infectious aerosols, and linked to transmission of other respiratory
viruses
e. What is a CPAP machine and are there any risks to nursing staff when residents
use these machines in long term care homes?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for
obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose connected to a mask or
nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to help you breathe while
you sleep.
Residents who are considered exposed to, or suspected or confirmed to have
COVID-19 should stay in their room until they have met the criteria for
discontinuation of Additional Precautions in accordance with facility IPC
protocols and provincial and territorial public health guidance. Those undergoing
CPAP or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) should not be moved.
Movement or transfer within and between facilities of residents who are
suspected to be infectious should be avoided unless medically necessary.